Visitors might like to stay a while - there is freedom camping at Four Mile Bush(on the Coast Road). Please take your rubbish with you and leave the toilet and facilities as you found them. There is also camping facilities at the domain with a shower and toilet block and power points for RVs and caravans. Please pay at the Hotel or Shop.

Officially formed in 1895, for more than a century Pongaroa has been the community heart at the centre of a large area of rolling hills dotted with remnant stands of native bush. The district has long had a reputation for unspoiled landscapes, pristine beaches and high quality meat and wool production, but it is the people and the hospitality of the community that make Pongaroa so special.

The centre of Pongaroa sits astride the crossroads of Route 52 and the Pahiatua - Makuri - Akitio road, making it an ideal location from which to explore the area. You will be surprised by the wealth of facilities and activities available to locals and visitors alike. Golf, squash, bush walks and hiking are all on the doorstep. There are camping and homestay facilities available for those who wish to stay over for a few days, and the locals at the Pongaroa Hotel are always pleased to welcome new faces. Fuel can be obtained from the local service station, snacks are available at the local store and full meals are on offer at the Hotel. The children of Pongaroa are served by a vibrant Pre-School (Pongaroa Early Years) and a thriving school,
Pongaroa School

For information on social, sporting, business and recreational facilities along with contact details take a look at the Pongaroa community list
2014_Community_List.pdf
.

Wander through the village and view the murals that depict the Pongaroa way of life and it's people from days gone by. Follow the directions in our Historic Walk brochure and view the buildings and streets with a whole new perspective. Stroll through the Native Bushwalk and be enthralled by the majesty of the trees, alive with the calls of Tuis and Bellbirds, while Fantails flit around catching insects.

Perhaps grab a coffee or ice cream and relax at the picnic table on the village green next to the monument honoring the achievements of Dr Maurice Wilkins, Pongaroa born Nobel Prize winning co-discoverer of the secrets of DNA.

About 35 minutes East of Pongaroa is the stunningly beautiful beach at Akitio. Once a significant part of the local economy, Akitio was the loading point for bales of wool shipped to Wellington and then on to Europe. Now the beach is quiet and only the last two timbers of the wharf remain as a reminder of the past.

Although it is a small settlement, Akitio has a thriving boat club, camp site and store. There are opportunities to fish for Flounder, Herring and Kahawai at the river mouth or take a walk along the deserted shoreline.